Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal thrilled with ‘biggest win’
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Playing for India was a big high for me because as an individual, you get to achieve that. (But) Winning the trophy for the team is a big thing. FAIZ FAZAL, Vidarbha skipper
INDORE: Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal said winning the Ranji Trophy ranked even higher than playing for India after his team upstaged former champions Delhi by nine wickets in the final to claim the maiden title at the Holkar Stadium on Monday.
The left-handed opener’s prolific scoring in domestic cricket had earned him an India spot for the Zimbabwe tour in 2016. He got to play just one game in which he scored an unbeaten 55. However, he led from the front with vital contributions with the bat in a dream Ranji Trophy campaign.
“Winning the Ranji Trophy would be the biggest achievement of my career,” said a delighted Fazal. “I know playing for India was a big high for me because as an individual, you get to achieve that. (But) I have always been a team man. Winning the trophy for the team is a big thing.
“I have been leading Vidarbha since my age-group cricket days. And to lead a Ranji team is not an easy thing,” he added. “The win is no less than a fairytale. This feeling can’t be described.”
PANDIT AGAIN
The Vidarbha players and cricket officials had one hero – coach Chandrakant Pandit. It was the latest triumph for the former Mumbai and India player, a highly respected coach for whom it was the first season with the team.
“Definitely, he’s (Pandit) is a task-master,” said Fazal. Vidarbha hugely benefitted from former India opener Wasim Jaffer, who switched from Mumbai to play and mentor the side. For India pacer, Subroto Banerjee, who has guided Umesh Yadav, is the team’s bowling coach.
Prashant Vaidya, former India pace bowler and Vidarbha Cricket Association vice-president, said he had to chase Pandit before he came on board. “Pandit’s presence has been great. I’ve been after him for the past 6-7 years, but for some reason or the other, we couldn’t get him. But this year, we got him and results are there,” Vaidya said.
THAKARE SELECTION
Pandit said:“all credit goes to the players. I’m very happy with the way they’ve respected me. They can celebrate. They’ve worked hard throughout the season.”
One of the inspired selections was 19-year-old pace bowler, Aditya Thakare, who took two wickets in the Delhi first innings.
Pandit admitted at first he wasn’t keen on picking Thakare, a reserve player for the ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand. “The credit goes to Prashant. He spoke to me about Thakare, but I wasn’t very keen. But I saw him in the nets and was very impressed. Even Fazal seemed impressed,” Pandit said.
VCA will give ~3 crore as prize money while the team will get another ~2 crore from the BCCI.
Delhi skipper Rishabh Pant was disappointed. “The better team won. Unfortunately, we failed in the final. We played well throughout the season, but not in the final,” he said.